Back to school tips

This week and next week marks the beginning of the school year. Before you send your child off to school or--if you're a college student--before you send yourself off to school, check out a few quick tips to keep in mind:

Back to school tips for students K-12:

Make sure your child's clothes are prepared the night before to save them time in the morning. Google Images

Have the lunch packed the night before or wake up a few minutes early to pack it [if not buying lunch]. If your child plans on buying lunch instead, warn them that the lunch line on the first week of school tends to be lengthy Google Images

Make sure that your child gets a good night of sleep! According to the National Sleep Foundation, children ages 5 to 12 need 10-11 hours of sleep. Good sleeping habits earlier in the school year are essential to maintaining the healthy pattern. SERGEI SUPINSKY/AFP/Getty Images

Encourage your child to form a relationship with their teacher. Studies show that students that are open with their teachers have an easier time communicating with them whenever they are struggling in school. Google Images

If you plan to bring lunch with you, save time and pack it the night before. The dorm cafeteria and other nearby food options will probably be packed with students trying to quickly grab food between classes. Save yourself time. Google Images

Get to know your Professors! If you ever have a question or need clarification on something, who better to reach to than your Professor? Office hours will be key and establishing that relationship can leave a lasting impression and may even be used for a reference in the future. Google Images

Get to know your classmates! In case you have to miss a day of class, have someone that you can reach out to to let you know what you've missed. Study buddies are also very helpful during test time. Google Images